Improvement in grain-driers



I49 I FF Patented Jan. 26, 1875.

1 12..- :2 I 1 Cu 431 H. H. BEACH.

Grain-finer.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY n. BEACH, or none, new YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAlN-DRIERSQ Specification forming part of LettersPatent No. 159,014., dated January 26,1875; application filed August 11,1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY HYDE BEACH, of Rome, Oneida county, New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in (.lrainJJriers, ofwhich the following is a specification:

This apparatus is characterized by the combination, within a shaft orcase having imperi'orate sides, of inclined perforated metallic shelvesand steam-heating piping-one range of piping for each shelf-locatedbelow said shelves, and serving to impart heat to the shelves, as wellas to transmit heat directly to the grain through the perforations inthe shelves. The steam-heating surface is coextensive, or practicallyso, with the shelf under which it is placed, and the pipes in each rangeare placed apart from one another, leaving intervals, through which theheat from the lower part of the apparatus can pass up through thesuccessive ranges of shelves and piping to the top of the apparatus.This formation also allows of the ascent of the vapors and moisture tothe top of the drier. The shelves are at such an inclination that thegrain will pass down from one to the other by its own gravity, and thatthere will be formed a grain-column of practically uniform dimensions,extending without interval or break from the top to the bottom of thedrier. This column, in passing down by gravity through the drier, isacted on or brought in contact alternately on opposite sides with theshelves, that portion of the face of the grain-column which is undermostand in contact with one shelf being uppermost when it passes to theshelf next succeeding. Thus all portions of the grain-column areheatedequally, and the grain is thoroughly and evenly dried through out by thetime it reaches the bottom of the am aratus, the passage of the grainbeing ef- 3 is a plan of a range of steam-piping for a single shelf.

The box or shaft that incloses the shelves and piping is shown at A, ofsuitable dimensions to contain said devices. Atthe top is a hopper, a,and at the bottom a discharge spout or opening, I), controlled-by anysuitable valve or gate, as, for instance, a slidevalve, 0, or adrop-valve, c. The shaft, as to that portion of it which contains theperforated shelvesand steam-piping, is impel-forate, so that the heatand vapors must pass upward through the body of the shaft to the topbefore escaping. The inclined. shelves are shown at d. They are placedvertically one above the other, and extend alternately from oppositesides of the box or shaft A. These shelves are made of perforated metal,as seen in Fig. 2, and are preferably about fifteen inches wide by sevenfeet long. They are placed at such an inclination that the grain willrun from one to the other naturally and easily without any inclinationto bank up. I prefer to arrange them with a fall of about six inches tothe foot, whiclris at an angle of about thirty degrees. The outer andlower end of each shelf is distant two and a halt inches from theadjoining side of the box, with the same distance intervening between itand the nearest point on the shelf below.

With this formation and arrangement of parts, when the apparatus isfilled with grain there will be a continuous grain-column of sinuousformation seven feet wide and two and a half inches thick extending fromtop to base of the drier. The movement of the column is induced byopening the dischargespout I). That portion of the grain which on oneshelf is uppermost will on-the next'sueceeding shelf be undermost, andin contact with the shelf.

Beneath each shelf is a range of steam-piping, 6, (shown separately inFig. 3,) covering an area coextensive, or practically so, with that ofthe shelf. This piping is parallel with the shelf, and is preferablymade of one-inch pipe, there being pipes united at the ends by usualbends or necks, and with intervals between the pipes, for the purposeshereinbefore explained. Steam enters the upper end at 0 and dischargesat the lower end, 6 All the ranges of pipe communicate with a commonsteam-supply and a common. discharge or drip.

Under the arrangement described all the heat is availed of, and. escapeof moisture and vapors is also provided for. These naturally ascend, andmake their way through the steampiping and the perforated shelves, untilthey reach the top of the apparatus, where they can escape through asuitable opening. At this opening I contemplate using a fan; but the anykind.

I have described seven pipes of one-inch diameter under each shelf but agreater or less number of the same, or a different diameter,

may be used, depending upon the width of the shelves and the amount ofheat desired.

I have also described the arrangement of shelves to form a column ofgrain two and a half inches in thickness; but a column of any requiredthickness maybe had by making the distance of the outer end of eachshelf from the side of the box and the shelf next below correspond withthe thickness desired,

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

In a grain-drier, the combination, with the shaft or case A, havingimperforate sides, of the steam-pipes e and the stationary perforatedinclined shelves d, arranged and operating together as described, forthe purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I. have hereunto signed my name this 8th day ofAugust, A. D. 1574.

HENRY H. BEACH, Witnesses:

W. H, SMITH, HENRY B. Tirr'r.

